Andrew Bynum was introduced to the media in Cleveland on Friday, and appeared as relaxed as we’ve seen him in quite some time.

The reason is that after an entire year of failing to meet even the most basic of expectations in Philadelphia due to injury, and being badgered consistently with questions about a return to the court that would ultimately never come as a member of the Sixers, Bynum finds himself in a new situation, and expects to be able to contribute to his new team immediately.

When asked if he’d be ready for training camp and how many games he thought he could play this year, Bynum’s response makes you wonder if he’s ever heard the phrase, “under-promise, but over-deliver.”

“I want to play a full season,” Bynum said. “There is no doubt in my mind that I can do that. Yes, I’m going to be ready. That is the plan. As long as I stick to it, I really believe that I have a great chance with this organization.”

The statement is relatively harmless in its optimism, and the expectation would be that once Bynum is medically cleared, that of course he should be able to continue to play without issue, barring a future setback.

But remember, Bynum has played all 82 games only once in his eight NBA seasons (counting last year when he didn’t play at all), and has appeared in 60, 54, 65, 50, and 35 games looking back at his last five years in Los Angeles.

There is, however, some additional motivation for Bynum to get healthy and stay that way, which will include dropping his weight — which he said was now at 305 — down to a more reasonable 280 or so. His two-year deal for $24 million is only guaranteed for $6 million, and Bynum will need to meet a number of performance benchmarks in order to earn the entire sum.

I don’t remember playing tonight. I didn’t play. Guys get a lot of money to be ready to play. No Knute Rockne speeches. It’s your job. If you’re a plumber and you don’t do your job, you don’t get any work. I don’t think a plumber needs a pep talk. If a doctor botches operations, he’s not a doctor anymore. If you’re a basketball player, you come ready. It’s called maturity. It’s your job.

Like it or not, motivation is part of an NBA coach’s job.

But that’s also precisely what Popovich is doing.

His credentials dwarf any other coach’s. He can play to his own ego and absolve himself of responsibility – and players will seek to please him. His years of success have earned him the ability to motivate this way, a method no other coach could use without alienating his team.

So, why not hold Motiejunas to what became a four-year, $31 million offer sheet once matched? Houston got something in return – a later trigger date on guaranteeing Motiejunas’ 2017-18 salary. Originally, that decision had to be made March 1 – which would’ve meant dropping Motiejunas from the team this season to prevent his salary from counting next season. Now, the Rockets can make that call in July, after this season is complete.

The following two Julys, Houston will also have a choice on guaranteeing Motiejunas’ upcoming salary or dropping him.

Essentially, Motiejunas is signing the most lucrative Hinkie Special in NBA history. If he plays well and stays healthy, the Rockets have Motiejunas at an affordable rate. If he struggles or his back injuries flare up, they can drop him with little to no penalty.

After they backed themselves into this corner, Motiejunas and his agent, B.J. Armstrong, didn’t do so bad. Considering the similarity between this contract and the Nets’ original offer sheet, it seems Houston helped Armstrong save face after a bungled free agency (which is easier to accept when you’re adding a talented reserve to a formidable team).

But for how little is guaranteed and how much control the Rockets hold over the next four years, wouldn’t Motiejunas have been better off accepting the $4,433,683 qualifying offer?

This means Motiejunas can’t sign with the Nets, who signed him to the original offer sheet, for one year.

I bet it also means Motiejunas and Houston have agreed to a new contract. Otherwise, why release him from the offer sheet? The Rockets would be giving up a tremendous amount of leverage out of the goodness of their hearts – unless this is just a prelude to a new deal with Houston.